BackgroundStudies using laboratory animals under what are considered to be "standard" conditions normally offer unrestricted amounts of food to the animals, which can lead to metabolic disorders. Moreover, standard diets have different compositions.AimTherefore, the aim of the present study was to assess the effects of two non-isocaloric diets (commercial Purina® and AIN-93M), which are considered standard diets, on the accumulation of fat in the liver of rats when offered ad libitum or in a restricted amount.MethodsThus, 40 Wistar rats (90 days old) were separated into 4 groups according to the amount of food offered (ad libitum or dietary restriction) and the type of diet (commercial diet, 3,028.0 kcal/g or AIN-93M, 3,802.7 kcal/g): animals fed the commercial Purina® diet ad libitum (AP), animals fed restricted amounts of the commercial Purina® diet (RP), animals fed the AIN-93M diet ad libitum (AD), and animals fed restricted amounts of the AIN-93M diet (RD). Dietary restriction consisted of pair-feeding the RP and RD groups with 60% of the total food consumed by the corresponding ad libitum groups.ResultsBecause of its higher carbohydrate and calorie content, AIN-93M was found to accelerate weight gain, reduce glucose tolerance and peripheral insulin sensitivity, and increase the amount of fat in the liver when compared to the commercial diet. Conversely, a 40% dietary restriction assisted in weight loss without causing malnutrition, contributing to an improved glucose tolerance and higher levels of HDL cholesterol.ConclusionTherefore, differences in the amount of carbohydrates and calories provided by the diet can lead to important metabolic disorders, such as impaired tolerance and accumulation of hepatic fat, and dietary restriction improves serum and tissue lipid profiles in laboratory animals.

Abstract-The study aimed to analyze the effect of two different durations of stretching exercises, 90 or 180 seconds, on the functional capacity (FC) of elderly women. Fortythree older women were assigned into three groups: inactive Control Group (CG, n. = 14), Training Group with three sets of 30 seconds (TG90, n. = 15) and Training Group with three sets of 60 seconds (TG180, n = 14). The TG90 and TG180 groups attended the university for 16 weeks, three times a week. The training protocol consisted of seven different static stretching exercises, performed in an active way. The CG attended the university only in periods of evaluations. Evaluations of the FC components and the Global Functional Fitness Index (GFFI), from the three groups, were both conducted before, and after 8 and 16 weeks of experiment, using a motor tests battery. The two-way ANOVA showed significant group x time interaction for the components flexibility, muscle strength and aerobic endurance, and for the GFFI values (p <0.05). The Scheffé post hoc test pointed difference between the two training groups and the CG, with no difference between TF90 and TG180. There was also improvement in the general classification of GFFI for the TG90 and TG180, which went from "fair" to "good", while CG remained classified as "fair. " It was concluded that the two durations of stretching exercises were equally effective in improving flexibility, muscle strength, aerobic endurance and levels of FC in elderly women. Key words: Aging; Range of joint motion; Physical fitness. Resumo -O estudo teve como objetivo analisar o efeito de dois diferentes volumes de alongamento, 90 ou 180 segundos, na capacidade funcional (CF) de idosas. Participaram deste estudo, 43 mulheres idosas divididas em três grupos: Grupo Controle inativo (GC, n=14), Grupo Treinamento com três séries de 30 segundos (GT90, n=15) e Grupo Treinamento com três séries de 60 segundos (GT180, n=14). Os grupos GT90 e GT180 frequentaram a univer-

Introduction: Resistance training (RT) has been widely used for older adults in order to minimize or reverse the deleterious effects of aging in the neuromuscular system. However, the potential benefits of RT on arterial blood pressure and resting heart rate in older adults remain controversial. Objective: To analyze the effect of eight weeks of RT on systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) in older women without hypertension. Methods: Seventeen women (aged 66.0 ± 5.8 years) without previous experience in RT were randomly assigned to either a training (TG, n = 10) or control (CG, n = 7) groups. Hemodynamic parameters at rest were evaluated by auscultatory method (mercury sphygmomanometer) and HR monitor (Polar), before and after eight weeks of experimental period. Results: Reduction possibly caused by RT were found only to SBP (-13.4 mmHg, p <0.01). Although significant reductions were observed for DBP and MAP, the analysis of covariance showed no interaction Group x Time significant. Conclusion: RT proved to be an effective training to promote adaptations in the cardiovascular system of older women without hypertension. Eight weeks of RT can significantly reduce resting SBP in older women.

No abstract

RESUMO:Diversos estudos têm apresentado os benefícios físicos e psicossociais da prática regular de atividade física. Exercícios de alongamento, por serem de fácil aplicação e aprendizagem, tornam-se uma opção simples e efi caz na melhora da capacidade funcional e qualidade de vida de indivíduos idosos. Em 2009 foi criada uma atividade dentro do projeto de extensão Programa de Atividade Física para Terceira Idade (PROFIT), o Grupo de alongamento. Objetiva-se apresentar os aspectos organizacionais técnico/administrativos envolvidos na implementação de um grupo de alongamento em um projeto de extensão universitária e exemplifi car a aplicabilidade deste tipo de intervenção, em idosos. O grupo é voltado para mulheres, com 60 anos ou mais que não pratiquem atividade física sistematizada. Devido ao apoio fornecido pela universidade e a facilidade de compreensão e aplicabilidade dos exercícios realizados no grupo de alongamento, este surge como uma alternativa relativamente simples a ser implantada em um projeto de extensão universitária. Além disso, observou-se uma alteração positiva no Índice de aptidão funcional geral (IAFG) das idosas participantes. Dessa forma a implementação de outros grupos, em diferentes locais deve ser incentivada. Vale ressaltar que a participação multidisciplinar em saúde (fi sioterapeutas, terapeutas ocupacionais, psicólogos, etc) enriqueceria ainda mais os benefícios proporcionados por esse tipo de intervenção para indivíduos idosos.